BACKGROUND: A deficiency of mesolimbic dopamine (DA) is a leading candidate for the etiology of certain symptoms of depression (e.g., anhedonia and loss of motivation). Here we show amounts of dopaminergic proteins in the amygdala, a key brain structure involved in the integration of emotions and stress, in subjects with major depression and in psychiatrically normal control subjects. METHODS: The specific binding of [(125)I]RTI 55 to the DA transporter, [(3)H]SCH 23390 to the D1 receptor and [(125)I]epidepride to D2/D3 receptors were measured in the right amygdaloid complex in postmortem brains from 11 subjects with major depression and 11 matched control subjects. RESULTS: The binding of [(125)I]RTI 55 to DA transporter was significantly lower in the basal and central amygdaloid nuclei, whereas the binding of [(125)I]epidepride to D2/D3 receptors was significantly higher in the basal, central, and lateral amygdaloid nuclei in major depression compared with control subjects. No difference in the binding of [(3)H]SCH 23390 to D1 receptors was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Given that DA depletion in rats can induce a reduction in the DA transporter and an upregulation of D2/D3 receptors, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that major depression is associated with a deficiency of mesolimbic DA.
BACKGROUND: A deficiency of mesolimbicdopamine (DA) is a leading candidate for the etiology of certain symptoms of depression (e.g., anhedonia and loss of motivation). Here we show amounts of dopaminergic proteins in the amygdala, a key brain structure involved in the integration of emotions and stress, in subjects with major depression and in psychiatrically normal control subjects. METHODS: The specific binding of [(125)I]RTI 55 to the DA transporter, [(3)H]SCH 23390 to the D1 receptor and [(125)I]epidepride to D2/D3 receptors were measured in the right amygdaloid complex in postmortem brains from 11 subjects with major depression and 11 matched control subjects. RESULTS: The binding of [(125)I]RTI 55 to DA transporter was significantly lower in the basal and central amygdaloid nuclei, whereas the binding of [(125)I]epidepride to D2/D3 receptors was significantly higher in the basal, central, and lateral amygdaloid nuclei in major depression compared with control subjects. No difference in the binding of [(3)H]SCH 23390 to D1 receptors was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Given that DA depletion in rats can induce a reduction in the DA transporter and an upregulation of D2/D3 receptors, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that major depression is associated with a deficiency of mesolimbicDA.
Authors: Erika J Wolf; Karen S Mitchell; Mark W Logue; Clinton T Baldwin; Annemarie F Reardon; Alison Aiello; Sandro Galea; Karestan C Koenen; Monica Uddin; Derek Wildman; Mark W Miller Journal: J Trauma Stress Date: 2014-08
Authors: S C Jaques; A Kingsbury; P Henshcke; C Chomchai; S Clews; J Falconer; M E Abdel-Latif; J M Feller; J L Oei Journal: J Perinatol Date: 2014-01-23 Impact factor: 2.521
Authors: G G Potter; W D Taylor; D R McQuoid; D C Steffens; K A Welsh-Bohmer; K R R Krishnan Journal: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2009-10 Impact factor: 3.485
Authors: Dara M Cannon; Jacqueline M Klaver; Summer A Peck; Denise Rallis-Voak; Kristine Erickson; Wayne C Drevets Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology Date: 2008-10-22 Impact factor: 7.853